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Real Money, Real Life ™

Real Money, Real Life ™

Written by: Linda Grizely
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Real Money, Real Life™ with Linda Grizely, CFP® Money isn't just math — it's mindset, memories, and sometimes a little mayhem. Real Money, Real Life™ is a practical personal finance podcast that provides clear information and real-world insight to help people better understand their money, build financial confidence, and make more informed financial decisions. Hosted by Linda Grizely, CFP®, financial wellness speaker, personal finance educator, and creator of the MeMoney™ Method, the show brings together financial knowledge and the human side of money. Because in real life, financial decisions are shaped not only by numbers, but by experiences, emotions, beliefs, and the situations people are navigating every day. Each episode is designed to be a helpful resource for people who want to understand their finances more clearly, feel more confident with money, and make decisions that support the life they want to live. Because money is personal. Growth is messy. And clarity starts with understanding — not perfection. Let's get real about money, life, and everything in between. #RealMoneyRealLife #FinancialEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #WomenAndMoney #financialeducation #podcastforwomen #financialwellness Required Disclosures The content shared on this podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not financial, tax, legal, or planning advice and does not constitute therapy or mental health counseling. Please consult an actively licensed and qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. Linda Grizely is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this show are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Nothing discussed on this podcast should be construed as personalized investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures related to Nectarine, please visit https://hellonectarine.com. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.2026 Education Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Women Finding Their Financial Voice with Jennifer Edwards | Ep 43

    Women Finding Their Financial Voice with Jennifer Edwards | Ep 43
    May 26 2026
    Women finding their financial voice is not just about speaking up. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely and Jennifer Edwards talk about how women can understand their money, ask better questions, and take ownership of financial decisions with more confidence. The answer starts with awareness. If you do not know where the accounts are, what debts exist, how retirement is being planned, or how money decisions are being made, silence can leave you vulnerable. But speaking up does not have to mean blaming, judging, or starting a fight. What if you want to understand more, but you do not want your partner to feel accused? What if you sit in meetings with a financial advisor and feel embarrassed asking basic questions? Linda Grizely and Jennifer Edwards break down why money conversations can feel so emotional, why women often defer long-term financial decisions, and how money can represent safety, identity, independence, belonging, and trust. You'll hear how financial silence can show up in relationships, what financial advocacy can look like, and why a simple money date can be a powerful first step. Real Money, Real Life™ is for people who want financial confidence without shame, jargon, or judgment. This conversation is a reminder that women finding their financial voice does not require becoming someone else. It starts with trusting your voice enough to use it. 💡 We talk about: · How women can start finding their financial voice · Why silence around money can create risk in relationships · How to talk to your partner about money without blame · What to ask when you feel left out of financial decisions Timestamps (00:00) Women finding their financial voice (02:22) What finding your voice means financially (03:22) Why money avoidance is often about fear (04:33) Why financial planning alone does not solve money tension (10:06) How silence shows up in money decisions (11:10) Why women often defer financial conversations (14:20) The emotional and financial cost of staying silent (18:10) How to start asking better questions (19:00) A money conversation starter for couples (20:35) Why widows need financial understanding before crisis (22:25) How financial advisors can support silent partners (24:30) What financial advocacy looks like in marriage (26:00) Understanding each other's money stories (29:05) How self-worth affects earning, spending, and investing (31:10) Why language shapes financial confidence (33:20) The fear that keeps women quiet about money (35:05) How comparison distorts financial confidence (36:25) Money and leadership beliefs women can release (37:50) One conversation to start this week (38:20) One small step toward financial advocacy (39:25) The real meaning behind money issues (40:10) Who Jennifer helps (40:50) Jennifer's Money Beliefs Inventory (42:00) Linda's closing nugget About + Links 👤 About Jennifer Edwards Jennifer Edwards is a Financial Wellness Specialist and Certified Financial Planner® who has guided more than 600 individuals and couples to greater clarity and confidence with money. She developed the 7 Layers of Financial Wellness framework to reveal the emotional, relational, and systemic forces shaping money behavior. Jennifer helps people communicate more clearly, understand the roots of their financial patterns, and navigate even the toughest money conversations with confidence. 🔗 Connect with Jennifer Website: https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-edwards-cfp/ Resource: Free Money Beliefs Inventory available in the resources section at https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.com 👤 About Linda Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results. 🔗 Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely 🤝 Resources Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely ...
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    44 mins
  • Don't Let Your Life Insurance Policy Die with Tony Steuer| Ep 42

    Don't Let Your Life Insurance Policy Die with Tony Steuer| Ep 42
    May 19 2026
    How to review a life insurance policy before it quietly fails. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Tony Steuer to break down what most people never realize about permanent life insurance policies, cash value policies, in-force illustrations, and policy lapses. If you've ever wondered whether you still need life insurance, whether your policy is performing the way you were promised, or what happens if a policy runs out of money, this conversation will help you understand what to look for before it becomes a costly surprise. Many people buy life insurance and never review it again. But life changes. Interest rates change. Insurance costs change. And some policies slowly deteriorate in the background without people realizing it until it's too late. Linda Grizely and Tony Steuer walk through how to review a life insurance policy, how to recognize warning signs inside cash value policies, and why an in-force illustration matters more than most people realize. You'll hear how policy loans can create hidden problems, why some permanent life insurance policies lapse unexpectedly, when a 1035 exchange may make sense, and how to evaluate whether keeping coverage still fits your financial life today. This Real Money, Real Life™ conversation focuses on financial clarity, not fear, and helps people better understand the human side of financial decisions and insurance planning. 💡 We talk about: • How to review a life insurance policy • Why permanent life insurance policies lapse • What an in-force illustration shows • When a 1035 exchange might make sense ⏱ Timestamps (00:00) Why people stop reviewing life insurance policies (02:00) How Tony Steuer became a life insurance analyst (04:30) How to evaluate whether you still need life insurance (06:00) What an in-force illustration is (08:00) Warning signs a life insurance policy may lapse (12:00) Understanding cash value and rising insurance costs (16:00) The risks of policy loans and "be your own banker" concepts (21:00) How surrender charges work (23:00) What a 1035 exchange is (25:00) Risks and pitfalls of replacing life insurance policies (27:00) Why people avoid reviewing their policies (30:00) The most important steps to review life insurance coverage (35:00) Final thoughts on protecting your policy 👤 About Tony Steuer Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, is an internationally recognized financial fluency advocate, award-winning author, podcast host, and fintech advisor whose mission is to change the way we think about money by addressing life's "what ifs" with integrity and focusing on the human side of financial decisions. 🔗 Connect with Tony Website: http://www.tonysteuer.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tonysteuer 👤 About Linda Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results. 🔗 Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely 🤝 RESOURCES Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: http://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ DISCLOSURES Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers
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    38 mins
  • Social Security Explained: What You Need to Know Before Claiming with Marcia Mantell | Ep 41

    Social Security Explained: What You Need to Know Before Claiming with Marcia Mantell | Ep 41
    May 12 2026
    Social Security explained in plain English. In this episode of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Social Security and retirement expert Marcia Mantell to break down how Social Security really works, what "going bankrupt" means, and how to avoid making emotional claiming decisions that could permanently reduce your retirement income. If you've ever wondered whether you should claim Social Security early, how spousal benefits work, or whether Social Security will still be there for future retirees, this conversation gives you a grounded and realistic answer without fear, hype, or political noise. Marcia Mantell explains why Social Security is not going bankrupt, what trust fund depletion means, and why so many people accidentally make claiming decisions based on panic instead of strategy. Linda Grizely and Marcia Mantell walk through how benefits are calculated, why your highest 35 earning years matter, how pensions and public sector work affect benefits, and what couples need to think through before filing. They also unpack the emotional side of retirement planning. Fear, uncertainty, headlines, and misinformation often push people into decisions they may regret later. This episode of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast helps listeners understand the bigger picture so they can make retirement decisions with more clarity and confidence. You'll hear how claiming Social Security early can permanently reduce survivor benefits, why many divorced spouses may qualify for benefits they do not realize they can receive, and how younger workers should think about Social Security as part of their long-term retirement planning instead of assuming it will disappear. Linda Grizely and Marcia Mantell also break down common misconceptions around Medicare, public pensions, and the Social Security Fairness Act, while explaining why retirement planning is rarely as simple as "just claim at 62." By the end of the conversation, you'll better understand how Social Security fits into your overall retirement income plan and why slowing down before making a claiming decision can make a significant difference over your lifetime. We talk about: How Social Security benefits are calculatedWhat happens if you claim Social Security at 62Why Social Security is not going bankruptHow spousal and survivor benefits really work ⏱ Timestamps (00:00) Social Security basics everyone should understand (02:40) How Marcia Mantell became a Social Security expert (04:05) How Social Security benefits are calculated (09:50) Teachers, pensions, and Social Security credits (10:35) The Social Security Fairness Act explained (13:20) Full retirement age and claiming decisions (17:15) Why Social Security planning is more complicated than people think (20:05) How spousal benefits work (25:20) Claiming strategies for married couples (28:40) The biggest Social Security mistake people make (30:15) Is Social Security going bankrupt? (32:45) How to plan for possible future changes (37:00) Why your Social Security estimate can change (40:20) Divorced spouse Social Security rules (44:05) Fear, politics, and emotional claiming decisions About Marcia Mantell Marcia Mantell is the founder of her own small business, Mantell Retirement Consulting, which is celebrating 20 years this year. Marcia is known for taking the complicated retirement, Social Security, and Medicare rules and translating them into language we can all better understand. And she's the author of 4 retirement books, a long-time blogger, a media columnist, and a podcast guest. Whether writing about or talking about retirement, she takes the opportunity to share as many helpful tips and tricks as possible. It's all about making a successful transition into retirement. Connect with Marcia Website: https://mantellretirementconsulting.com/ Website: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boomerretirementbriefs2022 Free Resource: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/estimating-your-medicare-costs/ About Linda Grizely Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results. Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely Resources What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: ...
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    55 mins
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